How big is your duck door?

[willowbirdks]

Hello all, just looking for some advice... I have perused the "duck house" forum at great length, and gotten some great ideas! But I'm looking for specifics that don't seem to show up on there.

We have a duck coop built in our shed, which is where they have been staying for a few weeks now. We let them out to range when we are around and can keep a careful eye, but today we finally finished the duck run out back of the shed. Fenced in on all sides and on the bottom, and it has a roof that extends out from the shed. Should be nice and secure for them to be outside even when we are gone during the day. We just need to cut a door so they can go from the coop out into the run.

How big is the door your ducks use to exit the coop? How tall do you think we should make it? (The ducks in question are Anconas.) We have human doors into the coop and run, but they are separate... This will be ducks-only! They just grow so quickly that we don't want to make it too small and end up with problems down the line. Thanks for any help!

 

[Amiga]

For my runners we put in a 2'x2' sliding door. That way, when three want to go through at the same time, they can.

 

[andreacroyle]

Hello all, just looking for some advice... I have perused the "duck house" forum at great length, and gotten some great ideas! But I'm looking for specifics that don't seem to show up on there.

We have a duck coop built in our shed, which is where they have been staying for a few weeks now. We let them out to range when we are around and can keep a careful eye, but today we finally finished the duck run out back of the shed. Fenced in on all sides and on the bottom, and it has a roof that extends out from the shed. Should be nice and secure for them to be outside even when we are gone during the day. We just need to cut a door so they can go from the coop out into the run.

How big is the door your ducks use to exit the coop? How tall do you think we should make it? (The ducks in question are Anconas.) We have human doors into the coop and run, but they are separate... This will be ducks-only! They just grow so quickly that we don't want to make it too small and end up with problems down the line. Thanks for any help!

I would love to see a pic when you have time to post! I am glad you asked this question. I am wondering the same thing.

 

[willowbirdks]

For my runners we put in a 2'x2' sliding door. That way, when three want to go through at the same time, they can.

2' x 2' is what I suggested to my husband as a "safe" size. Seems like it would be big for our adult Anconas, but I didn't think about everyone crowding through at once. Thanks!

 

[willowbirdks]

I would love to see a pic when you have time to post! I am glad you asked this question. I am wondering the same thing.

Yes, I have been meaning to get a pic up... I will try to share one in the next day or two, when the whole project should be completed.

 

[tdd2]

The door between our duckie barn (night time, secure enclosure) and their predator secure pen (for unsupervised daytime use) is approximately 8.75" wide x 12" high, and our ducks (including our good sized Pekins) have no trouble using it.














Hope that helps!

Cheers'

Dan

 

[willowbirdks]

The door between our duckie barn (night time, secure enclosure) and their predator secure pen (for unsupervised daytime use) is approximately 8.75" wide x 12" high, and our ducks (including our good sized Pekins) have no trouble using it. Hope that helps! Cheers' Dan

Definitely helpful, thank you! What do you have down for flooring in your secure daytime pen? Can't quite tell from the pictures. This looks like a really nice setup!

 

[tdd2]

The base framing is double stacked pressure treated 4x4's, inside the framing we layed down weed barrier, covered with 3" of 3/8" river stone, then put a layer of 3'x4' heavy plastic shipping pallets (for air space), finally all covered with 1" thick rubber horse stall mats - what you see in the pics.

The stone and plastic pallets were to securely bring the floor level up (nothing is going to dig up through all that!), the rubber horse stall mats are a duckie foot friendly surface that is easy to hose clean.

The rear framing trim is gapped 1/2" above the mats, so that the duckie dirt can be hosed straight out the back, where I installed a PVC rain gutter to collect and direct the dirty water out away from the pen.

Today I installed a timer operated self cleaning wash system for the pen using some garden sprinkler bits....and a pool filling shower for the inside pool.

Will post pics later, if interested (at work now)

Cheers

Dan

 

[tdd2]

I did have a pic on my phone...


This was taken while I was testing the system, at the bottom right you can see the spray jets on - they move up and down in a sweeping motion, at the top you can see the pool shower topping the water level up.....and Squirt enjoying it all!

Cheers

Dan

 

[willowbirdks]

I did have a pic on my phone...


This was taken while I was testing the system, at the bottom right you can see the spray jets on - they move up and down in a sweeping motion, at the top you can see the pool shower topping the water level up.....and Squirt enjoying it all!






Cheers

Dan

This is seriously brilliant. I'm not sure we can take it to this level at my house yet, but I know mine enjoyed playing in the sprayer when they were swimming in the utility sink... They would LOVE to have something like that every day. Can't imagine how nice it is to have their pen get cleaned out and know the ducks are getting a bath at the same time! Thanks for sharing all of your ideas and information.